Ecclesiastes 10:1–15

A Little Foolishness

1 Dead flies make a aperfumer’s oil stink, so a little foolishness is weightier than wisdom and honor.

2 A wise man’s heart directs him toward the right, but the foolish aman’s heart directs him toward the left.

3 Even when the fool walks along the road, his 1sense is lacking and he 2ademonstrates to everyone that he is a fool.

4 If the ruler’s 1temper rises against you, ado not abandon your position, because bcomposure allays great offenses.

5 There is an evil I have seen under the sun, like an error which goes forth from the ruler—

6 afolly is set in many exalted places while rich men sit in humble places.

7 I have seen aslaves riding bon horses and princes walking like slaves on the land.

8 aHe who digs a pit may fall into it, and a bserpent may bite him who breaks through a wall.

9 He who quarries stones may be hurt by them, and he who splits logs may be endangered by them.

10 If the 1axe is dull and he does not sharpen its edge, then he must 2exert more strength. Wisdom has the advantage of giving success.

11 If the serpent bites 1abefore being charmed, there is no profit for the charmer.

12 aWords from the mouth of a wise man are gracious, while the lips of a bfool consume him;

13 the beginning of 1his talking is folly and the end of 2it is wicked amadness.

14 Yet the afool multiplies words. No man knows what will happen, and who can tell him bwhat will come after him?

15 The toil of 1a fool so wearies him that he does not even know how to go to a city.